Gijón is a coastal city in the Spanish region of Asturias, known for its port and its beaches. It also has a good array of restaurants, many of which specialise in traditional Asturian cuisine. This includes hearty bean stews, lots of fresh seafood and classic Asturian cider. Here’s our pick of some of the best restaurants in Gijón.
Tierra Astur is a traditional Asturiansidrería (cider bar), which has a few branches dotted all over the region. Inside it’s both rustic and cosy, filled with lots of dark wood, wooden benches and green glass bottles hanging from the ceiling. As well as the traditional cider, which they pour into your glass from a great height, they specialise in grilled meats, as well fabada Asturiana (a traditional stew) and cured meat and fish boards (mar y montaña).
La Zamorana is one of Gijón’s best cider bars and seafood restaurants. Inside it has a traditional and cosy feel, with brightly coloured tiles lining the walls and legs of ham hanging from the ceiling, above the glass bar. It specialises in Cantabrian cuisine, particularly seafood. Start with the cecina (salted dried meat) with goat’s cheese and then order the stuffed hake fish or grilled octopus for a main. They also have a good wine list and traditional Asturian cider.
El Candil is a small and cute restaurant, dressed in bright yellow and decorated with paintings of fish and seafaring paraphernalia. It serves classic Asturian cuisine, where each plate is a beautiful work of art. It specialises in fresh seafood and includes dishes such as grilled sea bream, clams and artichokes in green sauce and stuffed squid cooked in its own ink.
V. Crespo is a stylish nautical-themed restaurant dressed in blue and white, with beach pictures and old ship’s wheels on the walls. Unsurprisingly they specialise in seafood, but also serve meat dishes, rice dishes such as paellas and traditional dishes from Asturias. For starters try the grilled octopus salad or stuffed figs with foie gras, followed by lobster stew or grilled hake fish. They also serve stunning looking desserts from lemon tart to Spanish style rice pudding with cinnamon.
Restaurante Auga is a fine dining restaurant right by the water in Gijón. It serves beautiful-looking, delicate dishes that are just as good as the views outside the windows. The menu includes lots of fresh seafood dishes as well as classic meat dishes such as roast suckling pig and venison with apricot purée. Start with the clams in garlic sauce or sea urchins with apple, followed by sea bass with samphire and lime. For dessert, try something unique using Asturias’ fine ingredients, such as frozen cider and goat’s cheese soup with hazelnuts and honey.
Located right next to San Lorenzo Beach in the centre of the city, La Posada del Mar offers lovely sea views and delicious food. Think large sharing tapas plates, lots of fresh seafood and crispy salads filled with all manner of different ingredients. The portions are generous and well presented and include dishes such as crispy cod with wasabi mayonnaise and octopus stir fry or duck confit salad with fresh orange, mango salsa and slices of hard boiled egg. They also specialise in fabada Asturiana – a thick bean and meat stew, which is very typical from the region.
Restaurante As de Picas is located right in the centre of Gijón, surrounded by lots of shops and cafés. It’s a stylish and modern place, with a circular dining room, lots of plush red and black lamps and contemporary artwork on the walls. The menu focuses on traditional Asturian cooking, but with a modern and more upmarket twist. It’s also of the best places to go for the traditional fabada Asturiana stew, which here is served deconstructed – with the chicken, chorizo and other meat separated from the soup and the vegetables such as potatoes, cabbage and chickpeas. They also serve great coffee and have a good wine list.
